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A four-legged orbiter sits on the sand, with a dish and a cloth over its parts.

50 years ago, NASA sent 2 spacecraft to search for life on Mars – the Viking missions' findings are still discussed today

By Joel S. Levine published

Viking consisted of two twin orbiters and landers, with experimental chambers in the landers to conduct three biology experiments.

Launches & Spacecraft
A map of the night sky, where just over the roof of a red farmhouse is an orange circle enclosing a yellow labeled dot for the moon above a white dot labeled Venus which is above a smaller dot labeled Regulus

The moon and Venus visit the 'Heart of the Lion' this week. Here's how to see it

By Joe Rao published

A striking sight to the unaided eye; even more so with binoculars.

Stargazing
Russia's Zond 5, which launched with a biological payload including two steppe tortoises, was the first successful circumlunar mission.

On this day in space! Sept. 15, 1968: Russian tortoises take 1st circumlunar spaceflight

By Hanneke Weitering last updated

On Sept. 15, 1968, the Soviet Union launched the Zond 5 spacecraft on a mission to loop around the moon and return to Earth.

Space Exploration
A bright green laser light shines from a darkened dome of an observatory into a starry night sky

These 2 European telescopes use lasers to track potentially dangerous space junk (video)

By Keith Cooper published

The laser system provides real-time positional data on the huge cloud of space debris above our heads in low Earth orbit.

Satellites
a triple-core rocket blasts off under a sunny, partly cloudy blue sky. smoke expands below next to an obscured launch tower, near a long white hanger with SPACEX written on the side. To the left, a bird flies away.

Rocket launch today: Is there a rocket launch and what time?

By Josh Dinner, Tariq Malik last updated

Follow Space.com's rocket launch blog for the latest on when the next rocket launch will be and how to follow it live.

Launches & Spacecraft
A glowing green light is seen in the center of a starry image from space but also in a white cutout box on the left part of the image

Interstellar comet 3I ATLAS glows green during lunar eclipse | Space photo of the day for Sept. 15, 2025

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

During September's total lunar eclipse, astronomers captured rare images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS glowing green, suggesting more about its chemistry.

Stargazing

15 years on, 'Halo: Reach' continues to be the golden standard of video game prequels

By Fran Ruiz published

Bungie's Halo swan song remains a fan-favorite installment, and its appeal after all these years is more than just nostalgia.

Space Games
Series of images showing the sun during a partial solar eclipse.

Partial solar eclipse September 2025: Live updates

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

The next solar eclipse will be on Sept. 21, 2025.

Solar Eclipses

Where will the partial solar eclipse be visible on Sept. 21?

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

The 'equinox eclipse' will bring up to 86% coverage across New Zealand, Antarctica and parts of the South Pacific.

Solar Eclipses
graphic with night sky in large font and silhouettes of people below looking up at the night sky.

Night sky for tonight: Visible planets, stars and more in this evening's sky

By Jamie Carter last updated

Find out what you can see in the night sky for tonight, from planets and stars to dazzling meteor showers.

Stargazing
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